STAR TREK RIDE
We had a friend in town visiting for a week and we sightseed unto exhaustion
with her. During the trip we did visit the newly improved Star Trek the
Experience ride at the LV Hilton. You can use comps for it (ask at casino slot
club desk). The price is around $30, with a discount for Nevada residents. The
club will "charge" you the correct price and also give you the Nevad discount.
(There are many places in town which give discounts to NV residents,
including shows, so always ask.)
Tickets now entitle you to both the older "Klingon Adventure" ride and the
new "Borg 4D" as well as the "museum." If you are taking a Star Trek fan, be
prepared for them to walk extremely slowly through the museum, perhaps reading
every entry in the "timeline." If you've been before you might want to part
from your friend and arrange to meet up at Quark's Bar.
The "Klingon" ride is quite well done. It combines interaction with actors
dressed as Star Fleet officers and others with a simulation ride on a
"spacecraft" and some other special effects such as "beaming up" to a spacecraft.
People with back problems, pregnant women, and others may not want to ride the
simulator, although the motion isn't too bad (see later description of Luxor
ride).
The new Borg ride also involves interaction with actors, including some who
are dressed as Borg, and a 3D movie. The 3D is good, and uses the new glasses
that give good special effects.
The two ride lines start at the same place, but more people can go through
the Borg adventure (left side of line) than Klingon, so if lines are long, you
might want to head for Borg first.
We found the ride a lot more crowded than it was before Borg opened, but no
major line except for Klingon part of the ride. Attendants at the front of the
line may be able to produce a chair for someone with problems standing for a
long time (they got one for me).
Both rides end at the Promenade Deck (i.e., shop area) and Quark's Bar. The
prices in Quark's are high, but ambieance is good. Also actors dressed as
Klingons, Ferengi, Borg, or others may wander through this area or the rides.
You can take photos in the museum or Quarks, but not during the ride.
It is hard to say if the whole thing is worth $30 or not, but probably
definitely so for a Star Trek fan. And the whole thing is very entertaining and
well-done and lasts a lot longer than just a $8 simulator ride at some other
properties.
ยทยทยท
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LIBERACE MUSEUM
We finally went to this one. Price is $12 I believe but you can find $2
discount coupons in local "what to see/do" magazines. We enjoyed this. There are
2 buildings. One holds his flashy cars, one his costumes and jewelry. There
is also an interesting video on Liberace's life. On some days of the week
(check with museum, I think it is Wed.) a Liberace impersonator plays concerts.
We all found the costumes and stuff very interesting to see and worth the
price of admission.
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LUXOR
This is probably the best architecture to see in Vegas. We toured through
the interesting lobby with huge statues, then went to the arcade. In front is
the sphinx and a couple great photo opportunities. My friend went to see one
of the Imax movies (about $10). Then we all went in to see the simulator ride
"Search for the Obelisk" which is the same ride that has been there since the
Luxor opened. "Search" was a much jerkier ride (motion-wize) than the Star
Trek rides. I found it unpleasant and actually painful as my knees hit the
metal sides of the seat. Kids will probably enjoy this more than adults.
"Search" cost $7.50 which seemed too high for such a short ride, but there are
"pre-shows" that expand it somewhat. The Luxor is a great place to take kids, since
it has a very large arcade, several rides, and interesting things to see.
Also there are a lot of extremely interesting shops.
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BELLAGIO FOUNTAIN
This is a must-see for tourists. My friend loved it so much we watched 3
consectutive shows. Shows are every 15 minutes after 3pm until Midnight. Shows
may be cancelled by high winds. You can get a list of all the music that will
be done in a week if you ask at the front desk. Best time to watch is after
dark, best place is directly in front of Bellagio.
Note the West parking garage seems to be closed down now, but you can valet
there.
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SIRENS OF T.I.
Shows are at 6, 8, and 10pm. Place has been packed. You may be able to get
a VIP pass if you play there, and TI room tickets also get you into a
"preferred" viewing area. Show has been shortened but still seems too long to me.
Also sirens are not very skimpily clad.
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RIO MASQUERADE IN THE SKY
I think there are 4 shows a night...but they are not necessarily on the hour,
I think one is 8:30 and one 9:30. This is probably the best free show in
Vegas. Performances of singing, dancing, and "floats" attached to the ceiling
last about 20 minutes. Also while in the Rio you can see "Bevertainers" singing
and dancing at various stands around the Rio. They may not be serving many
drinks, but they do wear some extremely skimpy outfits. Voyeurs can sit at
slots and stare up the crotches of the women. If you don't catch a free set of
beads after the Masquerade in the Sky, you aren't trying.
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AFTERNOON SHOWS
Best cheap shows in Vegas are Ronn Lucas (funny ventriloquist at Rio) and Mac
King (funny magician at Harrahs - 1pm & 3pm). Get discount coupon from
Carnival Court at Harrahs (or try asking Total Rewards desk). Cost is $6.95 plus
tax and you get 1 free drink (soda or alcoholic). If you try to use a comp you
will be charged the full price which is bizarre. Shows last about 1 hour and
are excellent. Right now a replacement magician is at Harrahs for April, but
he is quite good as well.
Discount tickets for Bottoms Up show at Flamingo Hilton are handed out in
front of hotel. I haven't seen it but I hear it is pretty much a Burlesque type
show with some toplessness, old jokes, and it isn't too great. Price is right
though at $6.95 plus tax and you get a free drink.
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VENETIAN & CAESARS PALACE are also great sightseeing spots. My friend loves
to window shop, so she was in heaven. Caesar's 2 moving statue shows are on
the hour only. Don't miss the aquariums in Caesar's, including a new one near
the front entrance that has Seahorses. Caesar's "Ride to Atlantis" simulator
ride is good but very very very very short.
Caesar's continues to be under construction all over the place. Can't they
construct in one area and finish that before opening a new one? The extension
to the Forum Shops looks like it will finish construction in the near future.
They are building a new tower of rooms on Flamingo side. The front entrance
(hotel checkin) is all torn up now too. The courtyard at Flamingo is under
construction but looks like it will be quite pretty.
Look for giveaway of $5 match plays at balcony leading into Venetian shopping
arcade. Gondola rides, Gondola singers, other "street entertainers" inside
arcade make it quite nice. Also Venetian has beautiful paintings, Venice
streets, and art gallery.
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CIRCUS CIRCUS
I hadn't been there in years but my friend wanted to go to see the circus
acts. Acts are pretty much on the half hour, but sometimes include not very good
ones (we saw some clowns). Place to view them is upstairs by the arcade in a
viewing stand. Place looks old and run down, buffet is cheap but not good,
circus acts not worth the trip to see. For kids there is the Adventure Dome
amusement park, which provides unlimited rides at a set price, and is probably
the only reason to visit this casino now (assuming you have children).
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Most startling sights in Las Vegas - brides in full dress sitting on slot
machines. Newly wedded couple in formal attire and family going into Palms
buffet for their reception.
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